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MLS New York Red Bulls

Offensive Outburst Rockets Red Bulls Past Toronto FC, 5-0

July 7, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


HARRISON, NJ (July 6, 2011) - The New York Red Bulls regained first place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-0 victory over Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena Wednesday night. Thierry Henry's league-leading ninth goal of the season sent the Red Bulls on their way, while Juan Agudelo scored two goals and reigning MLS Player of the Week Joel Lindpere added a goal and two assists.

With the win, the Red Bulls, who returned to Red Bull Arena Wednesday after a four-game road trip, moved back to first place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points and a 6-3-10 record, giving them a one-point lead over the idle Philadelphia Union. The Red Bulls' five goals on the night were the most they have scored in a match since defeating Toronto FC by an identical score on Oct. 24, 2009 at Giants Stadium.

New York nearly found the game's first goal in the 16th minute. Henry received a pass from Lindpere and dribbled down the left side into the penalty area. He centered a pass towards the middle of the box to Dane Richards, who just missed the net with a first-time effort.

Joao Plata was Toronto's most dangerous player in the first half, registering three of the club's four shots in the opening stanza. In the 20th minute, the forward took the ball from his own half, and made a darting run down the right side. At the top of the box, he cut the ball to his left foot and fired a shot on net. But goalkeeper Greg Sutton was up to the task, making one of his five saves on the night.

In the 33rd minute, New York got the opening goal. Carlos Mendes played a ball out to Jan Gunnar Solli, who came down the right side and drove a low cross into the penalty area. The ball made its way past a charging Luke Rodgers and to the feet of an unmarked Henry, who made no mistake with his finish.

Five minutes later, Rodgers doubled the Red Bulls' advantage, with Solli again providing the service. On the right side, Solli took a pass from Teemu Tainio and fed the ball towards the middle to Rodgers, who was near the top of the box to the right of goal. Rodgers took a touch with his left foot, and with the ball in midair, unleashed a volley to the far post that beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

Toronto came inches from closing the gap just after the intermission. In the 52nd minute, Plata intercepted a pass from the Red Bulls defense and set up Javier Martina at the top of the box. Martina's shot caused Sutton to make a diving stop, as the ‘keeper pushed the ball off the post and collected the rebound.

Seconds later, Lindpere scored his fifth goal of the season to put New York up, 3-0. On the counterattack, Richards streaked down the right flank and sent the ball to Lindpere just outside of the box. From there, the Estonian rifled a low shot past the outstretched hand of Frei and inside the left post. The goal was Lindpere's fourth in the past three games.

Agudelo replaced Rodgers in the 56th minute of the match, and scored his third goal of the season 11 minutes later. In open play, Agudelo's close-range shot was saved by Frei and bounded out for a corner kick. On the ensuing set piece sent in by Lindpere, Agudelo rose above Toronto defender Ty Harden and headed the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Agudelo scored his second goal of the game with one minute of regular time remaining, again combining with Lindpere. Lindpere collected a failed clearance by the Toronto defense on the left side of the box, and picked out Agudelo in the center of the area. The U.S International deposited the ball into the back of the net, notching his first career MLS multi-goal game.

New York is back in action on Saturday, July 9, when they host Atlantic Cup rival, D.C. United, at 7:30 PM ET at Red Bull Arena (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM). Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.

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